Skills-based volunteering is increasingly popular among companies, but developing strong, effective skills-based partnerships with nonprofit organizations can be very challenging. Nonprofits can be unsure of the expertise they’re receiving and how much effort it will require from their typically capacity-constrained organization. Companies can be unsure of what specific skill or type of skills based volunteering would be of most benefit to the community and their employee-volunteers. By speaking to the “other side of the aisle”, both companies and nonprofits will better understand how to think about, message and launch their skills based initiatives. This session at the 2015 VolunteerMatch Summit brought together companies and nonprofits who want to take that second step with their skills-based volunteer programs, through a fun, interactive speed dating session. Companies had the chance to hear what services would be particularly helpful to nonprofits in their communities – and nonprofits had a chance to “pitch” their skills-based project in a low-risk, low-pressure environment and get feedback on what will make their project even more attractive to potential corporate partners.

2. 1:00 - 1:10PM Welcome and finalize your pitch!
1:10 – 1:30PM Round 1
5 minutes Companies make your pitch
5 minutes Nonprofit partners share your feedback • What was compelling?
• What wasn’t clear?
• What would you want to
know before engaging in
a project?
5 minutes Nonprofits make your pitch!
5 minutes Companies provide your feedback • What was compelling?
• What wasn’t clear?
• What would you want to
know before partnering
if this were one of your
partners?
1:30 – 1:50PM Second Pairs
1:50 – 2:00PM Reflection